The FIU Alumni Center will soon become home to the university’s alumni and friends. Thanks to a $2 million planned gift from Richard W. Strait ’76 and Marcia L. Martinez-Strait, MS ‘77, that dream for a place to call home is turning into a reality. One of the largest alumni contributions to date, this momentous gift will support the design, construction and operation of the future Alumni Center.

Many of today’s FIU students are unaware of the history of FIU’s Modesto A. Maidique Campus – a former airstrip and World War II flight training center. Building on this history, a small team of dedicated and visionary people, driven by an entrepreneurial spirit and a willingness to adapt and persevere, imagined the FIU we have today and spent their lives making it a reality.

“I love the university and want to give back for the 30 years that I spent there,” said Patrick J. Russell, a former FIU employee who recently pledged a $1 million endowed planned gift in support of initiatives that benefit lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students – the largest gift of its kind in the history of FIU.

The phrase “Go Golden Panthers” reflects the spirit of fallen hero Michael Felsberg ’03, a former cross country/track & field athlete. Michael, a 27-year-old second lieutenant with the U.S. Marine Corps, was killed in October 2004 from injuries sustained in combat in Ramadi, Iraq. A weapons platoon commander, he volunteered for duty in Iraq after hearing that a replacement was needed for an officer who was killed in combat. A true Panther, Michael was known and loved by both staff and student-athletes throughout his four years at FIU as he enthusiastically cheered on every team.

Thank you to everyone who made it out to our first home Panther Fan Tailgate over the weekend! We hope to see you all this Saturday, 9/14, for our next one before FIU takes on UNH! Register now: https://t.co/g4aFGg288fhttps://t.co/UImdKTeXSp1 day ago 3 8